By definition a research paper requires the writer to learn a great deal about their subject, so it is always a good practice to select a topic that truly interests you before you begin gathering sources. Â If you are interested in your topic, learning about it will be more pleasurable and you will write with greater passion, so choose your topic thoughtfully. Â Use the following list of 101 research paper topics as a starting point for your paper. Â As you begin learning and writing about your topic, you should revise or amend your research question or thesis statement to better match the information that you are interpreting, analyzing, and expressing. Â Let your interest guide you. Â If you’re not having fun learning and writing about your topic, perhaps you should pick one that interests you more.
Download this list in RTF format
Download this list in PDF format
101 Research Paper Topics
By: Mr. MortonÂ
- Why do we sleep?
- How do GPS systems work?
- Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?
- Did anybody ever escape Alcatraz?
- What was life like for a gladiator?
- What are the effects of prolonged steroid use on the human body?
- What happened during the Salem witch trials?
- Are there any effective means of repelling insects?
- How did trains and railroads change life in America?
- What may have occurred during the Roswell UFO incident of 1947?
- How is bulletproof clothing made?
- What Olympic events were practiced in ancient Greece?
- What are the major theories explaining the disappearance of the dinosaurs?
- How was the skateboard invented and how has it changed over the years?
- How did the long bow contribute to English military dominance?
- What caused the stock market crash of 2008?
- How did Cleopatra come to power in Egypt what did she do during her reign?
- How has airport security intensified since September 11th, 2001?
- What is life like inside of a beehive?
- Where did hip hop originate and who were its founders?
- What makes the platypus a unique and interesting mammal?
- How does tobacco use affect the human body?
- How do computer viruses spread and in what ways do they affect computers?
- What is daily life like for a Buddhist monk?
- What are the origins of the conflict in Darfur?
- How did gunpowder change warfare?
- In what ways do Wal-Mart stores affect local economies?
- How were cats and dogs domesticated and for what purposes?
- What do historians know about ninjas?
- How has the music industry been affected by the internet and digital downloading?
- What were the circumstances surrounding the death of Osama Bin Laden?
- What was the women’s suffrage movement and how did it change America?
- What efforts are being taken to protect endangered wildlife?
- How much does the war on drugs cost Americans each year?
- How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
- Are humans still evolving?
- What technologies are available to home owners to help them conserve energy?
- How have oil spills affected the planet and what steps are being taken to prevent them?
- What was the Magna Carta and how did it change England?
- What is the curse of the pharaohs?
- Why was Socrates executed?
- What nonlethal weapons are used by police to subdue rioters?
- How does the prison population in America compare to other nations?
- How did ancient sailors navigate the globe?
- Can gamblers ever acquire a statistical advantage over the house in casino games?
- What is alchemy and how has it been attempted?
- How are black holes formed?
- How was the assassination of Abraham Lincoln plotted and executed?
- Do the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks?
- How do submarines work?
- Do lie detector tests accurately determine truthful statements?
- How did Cold War tension affect the US and the world?
- What happened to the lost settlers at Roanoke?
- How does a hybrid car save energy?
- What ingredients can be found inside of a hotdog?
- How did Julius Caesar affect Rome?
- What are some common sleep disorders and how are they treated?
- How did the Freedom Riders change society?
- How is internet censorship used in China and around the world?
- What was the code of the Bushido and how did it affect samurai warriors?
- What are the risks of artificial tanning or prolonged exposure to the sun?
- What programs are available to help war veterans get back into society?
- What steps are involved in creating a movie or television show?
- How have the film and music industries dealt with piracy?
- How did Joan of Arc change history?
- What responsibilities do secret service agents have?
- How does a shark hunt?
- What dangers and hardships did Lewis and Clark face when exploring the Midwest?
- Has the Patriot Act prevented or stopped terrorist acts in America?
- Do states that allow citizens to carry guns have higher or lower crime rates?
- How are the Great Depression and the Great Recession similar and different?
- What are the dangers of scuba diving and underwater exploration?
- How does the human brain store and retrieve memories?
- What was the Manhattan Project and what impact did it have on the world?
- How does stealth technology shield aircraft from radar?
- What causes tornadoes?
- Why did Martin Luther protest against the Catholic Church?
- How does a search engine work?
- What are the current capabilities and future goals of genetic engineers?
- How did the Roman Empire fall?
- What obstacles faced scientists in breaking the sound barrier?
- How did the black plague affect Europe?
- What happened to Amelia Earhart?
- What are the dangers and hazards of using nuclear power?
- How did Genghis Khan conquer Persia?
- What architectural marvels were found in Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire?
- From where does spam email come and can we stop it?
- How does night vision work?
- How did journalists influence US war efforts in Vietnam?
- What are the benefits and hazards of medical marijuana?
- What causes desert mirages and how do they affect wanderers?
- What was the cultural significance of the first moon landing?
- What are sinkholes and how are they formed?
- Have any psychics ever solved crimes or prevented them from occurring?
- Who is Vlad the Impaler and what is his connection to Count Dracula?
- What are the risks of climate change and global warming?
- What treatments are available to people infected with HIV and are they effective?
- Who was a greater inventor, Leonardo di Vinci or Thomas Edison?
- How are the Chinese and American economies similar and different?
- Why was communism unsuccessful in so many countries?
- In what ways do video games affect children and teenagers?
I hope this list will help you choose a topic for your research paper. Remember that these ideas should be used as a starting point; you will have to make these topics your own during the writing and research process. Don’t be afraid to alter and revise your thesis or research question to better match your interests or to align with your research. Would you like to suggest a research paper topic?  Leave it in the comments below.
Looking For More Resources?
Persuasive Essay Topics
Narrative Essay Topics and Story Ideas
School Project Ideas
All Reading Worksheets
Makelesi Ngata
/ April 29, 2016Is this a good topic or not Housing is a right not a privilege. I will be looking to pursue my piece of research, in the community I grew up in.
Further advice and comments are very much appreciated:)
Mr. Morton
/ May 5, 2016That’s a great topic. The best place to start would be at the library. Best wishes!
nona
/ April 25, 2016hi morton …
plz help me find a topic fo my graduation research project
i thought about behcet syndrome but it was rejected becuase it is rare condition and no enough candidate in sudan…
i study pharmacy
n m interested in clinical questionnair-based researches
Mike
/ April 16, 2016Hi, I am now taking composition two in my university in Japan and working on research paper. But, it is quite hard to choose the topic. Can you give me some advice, please….
Mr. Morton
/ April 18, 2016Well, Mike, what interests you? Writing a research paper requires a lot of reading and writing, and it’s a lot easier to do that if you are highly interested in your topic; however, I cannot tell you what interests you. Only you can do that. Find a topic that you love. Gather books and articles about it. Read them. Learn about your topic. Then begin writing. Best wishes!
maryglory
/ April 12, 2016Hi, I am studying degree of mathematics and statistics. Please help me to choose research topic according to my study.
amira
/ April 11, 2016hi sir, need ur help. can u suggest for me how to deal with the syrian refugees and how media represent this crisis? my research paper is about this.otherwise can you suggest for me a topic that is related to teaching or applied linguistics????thanks in advance
Juee Shinde
/ April 9, 2016you can also add a question about the bermuda triangle
Mr. Morton
/ May 5, 2016I don’t think you’re going to find too much substantial research about that topic, but I’d love it if you could prove me wrong. Best wishes.
PETER KAJI
/ April 7, 2016What are the factors hindering the development of tourism in Tanzania?
Mr. Morton
/ May 5, 2016That sounds like a good topic. I can’t really add much to it, but you could start by looking for some sources.
sofia anya
/ April 6, 2016i have no clue what to write about.Any topic for this research project. i am into tennis, cats, chocolate, and Russia. Please Help!!!!!!
Jess
/ July 10, 2016You could chose an inspiring tennis player/Olympian/Paralympian from Russia and write a report about him/her. Or you could look at how cats and chocolate affect you psychologically and me you feel happy. Let me know if this helps! 🙂
jelyn
/ April 3, 2016Hi. Can you cite some research papers about grammar?
Thank you.
Allison McEnturff
/ April 3, 2016Mr. Morton thank you for creating this website. It helped me find and pick a topic for my research paper.
Candice
/ April 3, 2016Hi Mr. Morton
Final year Education student at the University of the Western Cape, SA.
I have an assignment that is due in May 2016. I have to do a research proposal and i have no clue where to begin. Luckily, I have one “topic” that i find interesting but do not know how to put it as a research question.
topic –
* the use of alcohol during pregnancy
*effects it has on the baby with regards to their physical and cognitive development.
What do you think?????
Mareni Judith
/ April 2, 2016Hie
I am studying for a degree on Office Management. Can you help me choose a topic for my research.
thank you
Kyra
/ March 31, 2016Hi question 101 is a very interesting question i think my topic might be on that, but right now its on flooding
makarakhim
/ March 31, 2016I am Makakar. Also, all are excellent topics. Could you please send me the topic which related to teaching?
Anna
/ March 23, 2016Hi, your given topics are much interesting and helpful i liked and can i have an interesting research topic about biotechnology ?
Mr. Morton
/ March 24, 2016Oh, I wish I know something about biotechnology, but other than how it is depicted in the movies, I am hopelessly ignorant on the subject. My apologies and best wishes!
Norah
/ March 23, 2016Hi, am student pursuing diploma in business Administration ,may you assist me with aresearch problem under my area of study
Kayla P
/ March 22, 2016I have to do a research project, any subject. I want to do it relating to Greek mythology, but need a narrower topic, and a topic question. Assistance?
Mr. Morton
/ May 5, 2016Maybe speak on a specific myth and it’s connections to the natural or human world…?
John Shaugnessy
/ March 21, 2016On topic #77 you spelled “Martin” as “Marin”
Mr. Morton
/ May 5, 2016Thank you. I have corrected it.
Gift Banda
/ March 21, 2016Hi , may you please help me with topics that i can propose. Am studying project, planning & management.
Thanks in advance.
Gift Banda
Rama
/ March 20, 2016Hello, evryone I’m a student at unversity the last year for me and I’m oblige to work on a topic for research paper but i’m lost and i want a literary topic plz someone help me
alex
/ March 17, 2016I need to know about velociraptors
Mr. Morton
/ May 5, 2016You are in the wrong place. You should take a trip to the library and ask the librarian to assist you with your research.
Faith Dagodog
/ March 13, 2016Its all about my course. Mechanical Engineering. Is “the muyang grinding machine” is a nice topic?
Siya
/ March 12, 2016Hello. I am a highschool student and my teacher asked me to research and make an assignment on any topic. But i am confused on how do i select a topic which is not vast and easily available. I am interested in art and design but i don’t know what to do further.
Mr. Morton
/ March 15, 2016Art and design is much too broad. You have to pick a particular element of art or design on which to focus. I mean, imagine that you’re at the library. You need to find focused articles to read so that you can become an expert on your subject. That is the goal here: for you to gain expertise on your subject. So, how can you become an expert on art and design from a trip to the library? You can’t. There’s too much there. However, you could research a particular piece of art or design, and learn enough about it to gain expertise. Then you can write a paper and speak knowledgeably about your topic. So, what about art or design interests you? Keep digging. Find something that you want to read about.
David Saidi
/ March 11, 2016hi am a student taking business administration and was asked to do a research on any topic in business, please help me get a good topic coz am stranded. thanks
Priyanka Adhikary
/ March 10, 2016Hi Mr. Morton how are you? I am Priyanka and I am 26. I am planning for abroad studies in Japan which is scholarship basis. But firstly I have to submit the research paper. And I do not have any idea how to research. I have done graduation English literature and also done three years diploma course in Japanese language so, I can not decide which topic I should choose. As have interest reading books of Swami Vivekananda and also have interest in psychology. Should I take something related to that? and I do not want to research on literature. Please suggest me.
Mr. Morton
/ March 15, 2016Ha ha. No literature, huh? Go with psychology. Research Pavlov and his dogs.
TRESHY
/ March 9, 2016hi. mr. morton can you help me ? how to start a research paper ? can you give me some ideas ? pleaase .
Mr. Morton
/ March 15, 2016I like to start with a quote related to my thesis. Then I work my way to my thesis. Best wishes.
TRESHY
/ March 9, 2016All your topics are nice but i just want to add this topic up.. maybe it could help others 🙂
the topic is about ” TEENAGE EARLY PREGNANCY ”
—– HOPING THAT MY SUGGESTION WILL BE ACCEPTED .. IT WILL REALLY BE A GREAT HONOR FOR ME 🙂 THANK YOU 🙂
Mayline
/ March 8, 2016Hi can u help me find a topic research on developmental problems of any given enterprise in the Pacific
Mr. Morton
/ March 15, 2016I’m sorry. Your range of topics requires local knowledge that I do not possess. Best wishes with your search.
Lyza
/ March 8, 2016Hi Mr. Morton can you give me a 5 topics with an 5 statement of the problem each? Thank you for the response 🙂
Mr. Morton
/ March 15, 2016Ha ha. Yeah, I’m not going to do that.
anonymous
/ March 2, 2016can you help me narrow down the topic of videogames please?
Sintayehu
/ March 1, 2016Please tell me research questions related to health in developing countries.
JaydenDavid
/ February 29, 2016our instrutions from our teacher is
Research a topic of your choice
Step 1: Find an experiment/investigation/piece of research that interests you
Step 2: Research and find out what they did? How? Why?
Step 3: Think about what they found out. How could it benefit you? Science? Society? The Planet?
What aare some ideas we could do?
Hannah M.
/ February 29, 2016How people know what dinasours look like.
Hannah M.
/ February 29, 2016I suggest why people built treehouses.
BIBIAN
/ February 27, 2016Pls sir, can i get a topic on Nutrition and Dietetics
lovemore
/ February 25, 2016Hie Mr Morton can you assist me with any three research topics which are suitable for a student who is studying law
Pierre
/ February 25, 2016Hi, Mr Morton
Please ,I need a Topic on Aeronautical science, or Airspace Management . Thanking you in advance
leovy parot
/ February 24, 2016good day,
i want a topic like family planning for a research paper.
thanks……..
Nichole
/ February 24, 2016Hi I am struggling with finding a topic that can be measured for my research, design, and methods class. It has to be able to be an observational, experimental, and a correlational experiment. Please help me find find a topic that could be measured and interesting!
Hannah
/ February 22, 2016Hi I am doing a research fair and want a topic about health that will blow the judges out of the water. Can you help me?
zei
/ February 22, 2016Hi Mr. Morton,can you give me a problem statement of a my research paper entitled the effect of computer to the students?
zei
/ February 22, 2016Hi Mr. Morton,can you give me a effect of a computer to a students?
chibikom Elizabeth Swirry
/ February 20, 2016mr.Morton,pls suggest a topic of research in malnutrition of under 5yrs children in cameroon.Also can suggest a current trend topic in paediatrics for Bsc programme
Andrew Waki
/ February 18, 2016Mr.Marton Iam majoring in business accountancy I was told to write a research proposal,but I am still pending to find one.Please could you proposed me one topics catering in the social aspect.Thankyou for your consideration for this.
argie
/ February 15, 2016Hi Sir Good Day.
Can you give me a research paper topics for Socio Cultutural Issues.
Thank you.
chehada
/ February 13, 2016helo can you please give me an interesting topic about wars or weapons or fighting something like that.
please and thank you
pax
/ February 12, 2016hi Mr.Morton can you suggest a nice topic about teenagers
CJ
/ February 11, 2016Hi Mr. Morton! Such a great list you’ve provided… thank you! I’m interested in learning more about meditation & thought that might also be a good topic for a research paper. Would you be able to suggest a focus on this topic?
Thanks!
Bertha
/ February 10, 2016Can you suggest a topic for my criminal justice class. I need a reaearch topic
Kier john
/ February 10, 2016Mr. Morton I badly need your help. Can you give me a topic about mechanical machines. Pleaseeeee